Internal voltage generation circuit

ABSTRACT

Internal voltage generation circuit including a reference oscillation signal generator for generating a reference oscillation signal according to a comparison result of a pumping voltage with a reference voltage, an oscillation signal generator for generating a plurality of oscillation signals with a predetermined phase difference and a pumping voltage generator for generating a pumping voltage through sequential charge pumping operations performed in response to the plurality of oscillation signals, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority of Korean patent applicationnumber 10-2008-0018762, filed on Feb. 29, 2008, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to semiconductor design technology, andmore particularly, to a pumping voltage generation circuit of aninternal voltage generation circuit, for performing a charge pumpingoperation to generate a pumping voltage higher than an external powervoltage.

Generally, an internal voltage generation circuit for more efficientpower consumption is mounted inside a semiconductor device includingdouble data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM) togenerate internal voltages of various voltage levels. These internalvoltages include a core voltage and a peri voltage having voltage levelsbetween an external power voltage and a ground voltage, a pumpingvoltage having a voltage level higher than an external power voltage,and a substrate bias voltage having a voltage level lower than theground voltage. Generally, the pumping voltage and the substrate biasvoltage are generated by performing a charge pumping operation.Hereinafter, a pumping voltage generation circuit for generating aninternal voltage through the charge pumping operation will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical pumping voltage generationcircuit.

Referring to FIG. 1, the pumping voltage generation circuit includes avoltage level detector 110, an oscillation signal generator 130, and apumping voltage generator 150.

The voltage level detector 110 detects a voltage level differencebetween a reference voltage V_REF and a fed-back pumping voltage V_PPand outputs the detected voltage level difference as a detection signalV_DET. The oscillation signal generator 130 receives the detectionsignal V_DET and performs an oscillation operation to generate anoscillation signal OSC of a predetermined frequency. The pumping voltagegenerator 150 receives an oscillation signal OSC and performs a chargepumping operation to generate a pumping voltage V_PP.

Since the detailed circuit configurations of the voltage level detector110, the oscillation signal generator 130, and the pumping voltagegenerator 150 are already known in the art, detailed description thereofwill be omitted and an operation thereof will be briefly describedbelow.

When the voltage level of the pumping voltage V_PP is lower than that ofthe reference voltage V_REF, the voltage level detector 110 detects thislowered voltage level, and outputs a detection signal V_DET of, forexample, a logic high level. The oscillation signal generator 130receives this detection signal V_DET and performs an oscillationoperation to generate an oscillation signal OSC of a predeterminedfrequency. The pumping voltage generator 150 performs a charge pumpingoperation in response to this oscillation signal OSC. Therefore, thevoltage level of the pumping voltage V_PP is increased more and more.

When the voltage level of the pumping voltage V_PP is higher than thatof the reference voltage V_REF, the voltage level detector 110 outputs adetection signal V_DET of a logic low level in response thereto. Theoscillation signal generator 130 receives this detection signal V_DETand does not perform an oscillation operation. Therefore, the voltagelevel of the pumping voltage V_PP is not increased any more compared tothe reference voltage V_REF.

Meanwhile, the pumping voltage generator 150 uses a trippler typepumping circuit and manages a pumping voltage V_PP that is four timeshigher than a maximum external power voltage. For reference, the pumpingvoltage generator 150 performs a charge pumping operation in response tothe rising edge and the falling edge of an oscillation signal OSC. Atthis point, noise usually occurs in the generated pumping voltage V_PP.

Meanwhile, semiconductor devices are being developed in the direction ofhigh integration and large capacity, and thus more and more circuits usea pumping voltage V_PP . Therefore, pumping voltage generation circuitsthat generate a pumping voltage V_PP also increase. Accordingly, noiseoccurring in the pumping voltage V_PP also increases. In other words, aplurality of pumping voltage generation circuits are provided andsimultaneously driven to generate a pumping voltage V_PP. That is, allof the pumping voltage generation circuits perform a charge pumpingoperation in response to a rising edge, and perform a charge pumpingoperation in response to a falling edge. For example, when each pumpingvoltage generation circuit generates a pumping voltage V_PP having aconstant noise in response to a rising edge, a very large noise isgenerated in a finally generated pumping voltage V_PP.

The pumping voltage V_PP in which a noise has seriously occurred maycause a malfunction to a circuit using the pumping voltage V_PP. Forreference, a DDR SDRAM inputting/outputting data at high speed defines‘tDV’ as its specification in association with a valid data window. Anoise occurring in the pumping voltage V_PP is closely related to ‘tDV’.Therefore, to stably secure ‘tDV’, it is indispensable to reduce a noiseof the pumping voltage V_PP as much as possible.

Also, providing a plurality of pumping voltage generation circuits in alimited space may act as much burden when a semiconductor is designed.In case of having to provide a plurality of pumping voltage generationcircuits, a net die yield per wafer may be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are directed to providing an internalvoltage generation circuit that can reduce noise occurring in aninternal voltage as much as possible.

Embodiments of the invention are also directed to providing an internalvoltage generation circuit that can generate a pumping voltage whosenoise is minimized in securing ‘tDV’.

Embodiments of the invention are also directed to providing an internalvoltage generation circuit that can increase net die yield per waferusing a minimized circuit construction in generating a desired internalvoltage.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided areference oscillation signal generator for generating a referenceoscillation signal according to a result of comparison of a pumpingvoltage with a reference voltage, an oscillation signal generator forgenerating a plurality of oscillation signals activated with apredetermined phase difference on the basis of the reference oscillationsignal, and a pumping voltage generator for generating the pumpingvoltage through sequential charge pumping operations performed inresponse to the plurality of oscillation signals, respectively.

The invention allows a plurality of pumping voltage generation circuitsto sequentially operate with a predetermined phase difference to reduceas much as possible noise that may occur in a pumping voltage, and tosecure the stability and reliability of a circuit using the pumpingvoltage. Particularly, ‘tDV’ can be secured. Also, a circuit operating apumping voltage generator is shared, so that net die yield per wafer canbe increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general pumping voltage generationcircuit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a pumping voltage generation circuit inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the oscillation signal generator (250) ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the first control signal generator (310)of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of the reference oscillation signal(OSC_REF) and the first and second oscillation signals (OSC1, OSC2) ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a pumping voltage generation circuit inaccordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the source oscillation signal generator650, and the first and second oscillation signal generators (672, 674)of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram of respective signals used in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating simulation results of the noise of apumping voltage (V——PP) in accordance with the related art and theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an internal voltage generation circuit in accordance withthe present invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in such a way that thoseskilled in the art can easily carry out the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a pumping voltage generation circuit inaccordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the pumping voltage generation circuit can includea voltage level detector 210, a reference oscillation signal generator230, an oscillation signal generator 250, and a pumping voltagegenerator 270.

The voltage level detector 210 is designed for detecting a pumpingvoltage V_PP in relation to a reference voltage V_REF. For example, thevoltage level detector 210 outputs a detection signal V_DET of a logichigh level when the voltage level of the pumping voltage V_PP is lowerthan that of the reference voltage V_REF, and outputs a detection signalV_DET of a logic low level when the voltage level of the pumping voltageV_PP is higher than that of the reference voltage V_REF.

The reference oscillation signal generator 230 generates a referenceoscillation signal OSC_REF of a predetermined frequency according to thedetection result output by the voltage level detector 210, that is, thedetection signal V_DET. For example, the reference oscillation signalgenerator 230 generates a reference oscillation signal OSC_REFoscillating at a predetermined frequency when the detection signal V_DEThas a logic high level, and generates a reference oscillation signalOSC_REF that does not oscillate when the detection signal V_DET has alogic low level.

The oscillation signal generator 250 is designed for generating firstand second oscillation signals OSC1 and OSC2 activated with apredetermined phase difference on the basis of the reference oscillationsignal OSC_REF. The first oscillation signal OSC1 is a signaloscillating in response to the oscillating reference oscillation signalOSC_REF, and the second oscillation OSC2 is a signal oscillating with apredetermined phase difference relative to the first oscillation signalOSC1.

The pumping voltage generator 270 is designed to generate a pumpingvoltage V_PP through sequential charge pumping operations in response tothe first and second oscillation signals OSC1 and OSC2. The pumpingvoltage generator 270 can include a first pumping voltage generator 272and a second pumping voltage generator 274. The first pumping voltagegenerator 272 generates a pumping voltage V_PP in response to the firstoscillation signal OSC1, and the second pumping voltage generator 274generates a pumping voltage V_PP in response to the second oscillationsignal OSC2.

In accordance with the invention, the oscillation signal generator 250generates the first and second oscillation signals OSC1 and OSC2activated with a predetermined phase difference, and the pumping voltagegenerator 270 can sequentially perform the charge pumping operations inresponse to the first and second oscillation signals OSC1 and OSC2. Thatis, the charge pumping operations are not performed at the same time,but rather are sequentially performed, so that noise in the pumpingvoltage V_can be reduced.

The reference oscillation signal generator 230 is the same as theoscillation signal generator 130 of FIG. 1 in its technical realizationand operation, and each of the first and second pumping voltagegenerators 272 and 274 is the same as the pumping voltage generator 150of FIG. 1 in its technical realization and operation, descriptionsthereof are omitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the oscillation signal generator 250 ofFIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the oscillation signal generator 250 can includefirst and second control signal generators 310 and 330, and first andsecond oscillation signal output units 350 and 370.

The first and second control signal generators 310 and 330 are designedfor generating first and second control signals CTR1 and CTR2sequentially activated in response to a reference oscillation signalOSC_REF. The first control signal generator 310 outputs an input signalIN as the first control signal CTR1 in response to the reference signalOSC_REF, and the second control signal generator 330 outputs the firstcontrol signal CTR1 as the second control signal CTR2 in response to thereference oscillation signal OSC_REF. The first and second controlsignal generators 310 and 330 are reset in response to reset signalsRST. The technical realization of the first and second control signalgenerators 310 and 330 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

The first and second oscillation signal output units 350 and 370 aredesigned for outputting the first and second oscillation signals OSC1and OSC2 with respect to the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF inresponse to the first and second control signals CTR1 and CTR2. Thefirst oscillation signal output unit 350 outputs the first oscillationsignal OSC1 with respect to the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF inresponse to the first control signal CTR1, and the second oscillationsignal output unit 370 outputs the second oscillation signal OSC2 withrespect to the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF in response to thesecond control signal CTR2. At this point, the first oscillation signalOSC1 and the second oscillation signal OSC2 are sequentially activatedand can have a phase difference of 180°.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the first control signal generator 310 ofFIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first control signal generator 310 can includea storage unit 410 and an output unit 430.

The storage unit 410 stores an input signal IN in a first latching unitLAT1 in response to a reference oscillation signal OSC_REF of a logiclow level and an inverse signal of the reference oscillation signalOSC_REF, and the output unit 430 stores an output signal from the firstlatching unit LAT1 in a second latching unit LAT2 in response to areference oscillation signal OSC_REF of a logic high level, and outputsthe stored signal as the first control signal CTR1. Subsequently, areset unit 450 resets the first and second latching units LAT1 and LAT2in response to a reset signal RST of a logic low level.

Meanwhile, since the second control signal generator 330 is similar tothe first control signal generator 310 in its technical realization, itis not additionally illustrated. The second control signal generator 330stores the first control signal CTR1 in response to a referenceoscillation signal OSC_REF of a logic low level, and outputs the storedfirst control signal CTR1 as the second control signal CTR2 in responseto a reference oscillation signal OSC_REF of a logic high level.

Hereinafter, a simple operation will be described with reference to FIG.2 to 4. In this case, an input signal IN has a logic low level.

When the voltage level of a pumping voltage V_is lower than that of thereference voltage V_REF, the voltage level detector 210 detects thelowered voltage level of the pumping voltage V_PP, and the referenceoscillation signal generator 230 generates a reference oscillationsignal OSC_REF of a predetermined frequency according to the detectionresult.

The first control signal generator 310 stores an input signal IN in thefirst latching unit LAT1 in response to a reference oscillation signalOSC_REF of a logic low level, and outputs an output signal of the firstlatching unit LAT1 as the first control signal CTR1 in response to afirst point 1 at which the reference oscillation signal OSC_REFtransitions to a logic high level. At this point, a first inverterC_INV1 is driven under control of the first control signal CTR1. Thereference oscillation signal OSC_REF is output as the first oscillationsignal OSC1.

After that, the second control signal generator 330 stores the firstcontrol signal CTR1 in response to a reference oscillation signalOSC_REF of a logic low level, and outputs the stored first controlsignal CTR1 as the second control signal CTR2 in response to a secondpoint 2 at which the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF transitions toa logic high level. That is, the first control signal CTR1 and thesecond control signal CTR2 are sequentially activated. At this point, asecond inverter C_INV2 is driven under control of the second controlsignal CTR2. The reference oscillation signal OSC_REF is output as thesecond oscillation signal OSC2.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of the reference oscillation signal OSC_REFand the first and second oscillation signals OSC1 and OSC2 of FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, since the first and second oscillation signalsOSC1 and OSC2 are sequentially activated, first and second pumpingvoltage generators 272 and 274 of FIG. 2 are not simultaneously driven,so that charge pumping operation can be sequentially performed.

Also, since the first oscillation signal OSC1 and the second oscillationsignal OSC2 have a phase difference of 180°, the rising edge of thefirst oscillation signal OSC1 can correspond to the falling edge of thesecond oscillation signal OSC2, or the falling edge of the firstoscillation signal OSC1 can correspond to the rising edge of the secondoscillation signal OSC2. That is, while the first pumping voltagegenerator 272 of FIG. 2 performs a charge pumping operation in responseto the rising edge of the first oscillation signal OSC1, the secondpumping voltage generator 274 can perform a charge pumping operation inresponse to the falling edge of the second oscillation signal OSC2.Alternatively, while the first pumping voltage generator 272 performs acharge pumping operation in response to the falling edge of the firstoscillation signal OSC1, the second pumping voltage generator 274 canperform a charge pumping operation in response to the rising edge of thesecond oscillation signal OSC2.

The foregoing means that the maximum noise value of the pumping voltageV_can be reduced. For convenience in description, it is assumed that anoise value generated in a pumping voltage V_PP in response to a risingedge is 7, and a noise value generated in the pumping voltage V_PP inresponse to a falling edge is 3.

In the related art, all of pumping voltage generation circuits (it isassumed that the number of the circuits is two) perform a charge pumpingoperation in response to a rising edge. Accordingly, a noise valuegenerated in a pumping voltage V_PP in response to the rising edgebecomes 14 (7+7). Also, a noise value generated in the pumping voltageV_PP in response to a falling edge becomes 6 (3+3). At this point, amaximum noise value generated in the pumping voltage V_becomes 14.

However, since the first pumping voltage generator 272 performs a chargepumping operation in response to a rising edge and the second pumpingvoltage generator 274 performs a charge pumping operation in response toa falling edge in a pumping voltage generation circuit in accordancewith a first embodiment of the invention, a noise value generated in apumping voltage V_PP becomes 10 (7+3). Also, since the first pumpingvoltage generator 272 performs a charge pumping operation in response toa falling edge and the second pumping voltage generator 274 performs acharge pumping operation in response to a rising edge, a noise valuegenerated in a pumping voltage V_PP also becomes 10. Therefore, amaximum noise generated in a pumping voltage V_PP becomes 10.

Consequently, the pumping voltage generation circuit in accordance withthe invention can reduce a maximum noise value of a generated pumpingvoltage V_.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a pumping voltage generation circuit inaccordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the pumping voltage generation circuit can includea voltage level detector 610, a reference oscillation signal generator630, a source oscillation signal generator 650, an oscillation signalgenerator 670, and a pumping voltage generator 690.

The voltage level detector 610 is designed for detecting a pumpingvoltage V_PP as compared with a reference voltage V_REF. For example,the voltage level detector 610 outputs a detection signal V_DET of alogic high level when the voltage level of a pumping voltage V_PP islower than that of the reference voltage V_REF, and outputs a detectionsignal V_DET of a logic low level when the voltage level of a pumpingvoltage V_PP is higher than that of the reference voltage V_REF.

The reference oscillation signal generator 630 generates a referenceoscillation signal OSC_REF of a predetermined frequency according to adetection result of the voltage level detector 610, that is, a detectionsignal V_DET. For example, the reference oscillation signal generator630 generates a reference oscillation signal OSC_REF oscillating at apredetermined frequency when the detection signal V_DET has a logic highlevel, and generates a reference oscillation signal OSC_REF that doesnot oscillate when the detection signal V_DET has a logic low level.

The source oscillation signal generator 650 generates first and secondsource oscillation signals OSC_ODD and OSC_EVEN having a predeterminedphase difference and whose transition points do not overlap each otheron the basis the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF. The first sourceoscillation signal OSC_ODD is a signal oscillating in response to thereference oscillation signal OSC_REF, and the second source oscillationsignal OSC_EVEN is an oscillation signal having a predetermined phasedifference with respect to the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD.Though description will be made regarding the first and second sourceoscillation signals OSC_ODD and OSC_EVEN with reference to FIG. 8, thefirst and second source oscillation signals OSC_ODD and OSC_EVEN aresignals having a phase difference of 90° with respect to each other. Therising and falling edges of the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODDdo not overlap the rising and falling edges of the second sourceoscillation signal OSC_EVEN. That is, the transition point of the firstsource oscillation signal OSC_ODD does not overlap that of the secondsource oscillation signal OSC_EVEN.

The oscillation signal generator 670 is designed for generating aplurality of oscillation signals OSC1, OSC2, OSC3 and OSC4 sequentiallyactivated in response to the first and second source oscillation signalsOSC_ODD and OSC_EVEN. The oscillation signal generator 670 can includefirst and second oscillation signal generators 672 and 674. The firstoscillation signal generator 672 generates the first and thirdoscillation signals OSC1 and OSC3 sequentially activated in response tothe first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD. The second oscillationsignal generator 674 generates the second and fourth oscillation signalsOSC2 and OSC4 sequentially activated in response to the second sourceoscillation signal OSC_EVEN.

The pumping voltage generator 690 is designed for generating pumpingvoltages V_PP in response to the plurality of oscillation signals OSC1,OSC2, OSC3 and OSC4, respectively. The pumping voltage generator 690 caninclude first to fourth pumping voltage generators 692, 694, 696 and698. The first pumping voltage generator 692 generates a pumping voltageV_PP through a charge pumping operation in response to the firstoscillation signal OSC1, the second pumping voltage generator 694generates a pumping voltage V_PP through a charge pumping operation inresponse to the second oscillation signal OSC2, the third pumpingvoltage generator 696 generates a pumping voltage V_PP through a chargepumping operation in response to the third oscillation signal OSC3, andthe fourth pumping voltage generator 698 generates a pumping voltageV_PP through a charge pumping operation in response to the fourthoscillation signal OSC4.

In accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, the sourceoscillation signal generator 650 generates the first and second sourceoscillation signals OSC_ODD and OSC_EVEN having a predetermined phasedifference and whose transition points do not overlap each other on thebasis of the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF. The first and secondoscillation signal generators 672 and 674 generates the plurality ofoscillation signals OSC1, OSC2, OSC3 and OSC4 sequentially activated inresponse to the first and second source oscillation signals OSC_ODD andOSC_EVEN. Therefore, the first to fourth pumping voltage generators 692,694, 696 and 698 can generate a noise-reduced pumping voltage V_PPthrough sequential charge pumping operations in response to theplurality of oscillation signals OSC1, OSC2, OSC3 and OSC4.

Since the technical realizations of the voltage level detector 610, thereference oscillation signal generator 630, the first to fourth pumpingvoltage generators 692, 694, 696 and 698 are obvious to those skilled inthe art as described in the previous embodiment, detailed descriptionsthereof are omitted. The source oscillation signal generator 650, andthe first and second oscillation signal generators 672 and 674, whichare closely related to the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the source oscillation signal generator650, and the first and second oscillation signal generators 672 and 674of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, the source oscillation signal generator 650 caninclude a clock divider 710 and a clock shifter 720. A first inverterINV1 is designed for adjusting a logic level value suitable for acircuit operation, and for buffering the reference oscillation signalOSC_REF. The first inverter INV1 receives the reference oscillationsignal OSC_REF and inverts and outputs the reference oscillation signalOSC_REF.

The clock divider 710 divides the reference oscillation signal OSC_REFto generate a first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD. The clock divider710 can include a first storage unit 712 and a first output unit 714.The first storage unit 712 stores a fed-back first source oscillationsignal OSC_ODD in response to the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF.The first output unit 714 outputs an output signal of the first storageunit 712 as the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD in response tothe reference oscillation signal OSC_REF.

The clock shifter 720 shifts the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODDin response to the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF and outputs theshifted first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD as the second sourceoscillation signal OSC_EVEN. The clock shifter 720 can include a secondstorage unit 722 and a second output unit 724. The second storage unit722 stores the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD in response tothe reference oscillation signal OSC_REF, and the second output unit 724outputs an output signal of the second storage unit 722 as the secondsource oscillation signal OSC_EVEN in response to the referenceoscillation signal OSC_REF.

The simple operations of the clock divider 710 and the clock shifter 720are described below.

When the oscillating reference oscillation signal OSC_REF is input tothe clock divider 710, the first storage unit 712 delivers the firstsource oscillation signal OSC_ODD to the first output unit 714 inresponse to the falling edge of the reference oscillation signalOSC_REF, and stores an output signal being delivered to the first outputunit 714 in a first latching unit LAT1 in response to the rising edge ofthe reference oscillation signal OSC_REF. Also, the first output unit714 stores an output signal of the first storage unit 712 in a secondlatching unit LAT2, and outputs the stored signal as the first sourceoscillation signal OSC_ODD in response to the rising edge of thereference oscillation signal OSC_REF. Consequently, the clock divider710 divides the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF to generate thefirst source oscillation signal OSC_ODD.

Next, when the oscillating reference oscillation signal OSC_REF is inputto the clock shifter 720, the second storage unit 722 stores the firstoscillation signal OSC_ODD in a third latching unit LAT3 in response tothe rising edge of the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF, and thesecond output unit 724 stores an output signal of the second storageunit 722 in a fourth latching unit LAT4 and outputs the stored signal asthe second source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN in response to the fallingedge of the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF. Consequently, theclock shifter 720 synchronizes the first source oscillation signalOSC_ODD with the falling edge of the reference oscillation signalOSC_REF and outputs the synchronized first source oscillation signalOSC_ODD as the second source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram of respective signals used in FIG. 7. Forconvenience in description, the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF,the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD, and the second sourceoscillation signal OSC_EVEN are mainly described.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the reference oscillation signal OSC_REFstarts to oscillate, the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD dividedfrom the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF is generated, and then thesecond source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN shifted from the first sourceoscillation signal OSC_ODD is generated. The first source oscillationsignal OSC_ODD and the second source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN aresignals having a phase difference of 90°, and transition points thereofdo not overlap each other.

In the case where the pumping voltage generation circuit includes twopumping voltage generators of the first and second pumping voltagegenerators 272 and 274 as illustrated in FIG. 2, the first and secondsource oscillation signals OSC_ODD and OSC_EVEN can be directly used toreduce a noise of a pumping voltage V_PP. In other words, since therising and falling edges of the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODDdo not overlap the rising and falling edges of the second sourceoscillation signal OSC_EVEN, the first pumping voltage generator 272performs a charge pumping operation in response to the rising edge ofthe first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD, then the second pumpingvoltage generator 274 performs a charge pumping operation in response tothe rising edge of the second source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN, thenthe first pumping voltage generator 272 performs a charge pumpingoperation in response to the falling edge of the first sourceoscillation signal OSC_ODD, then the second pumping voltage generator274 performs a charge pumping operation in response to the falling edgeof the second source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN.

Consequently, since the transition points of the first and second sourceoscillation signals OSC_ODD and OSC_EVEN do not overlap each other,charge pumping operations can be sequentially performed, so that a noisegenerated in the pumping voltage V_can be reduced as much as possible.

The first and second oscillation signal generators 672 and 674 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 7.

The first oscillation signal generator 672 can include first and thirdcontrol signal generators 730A and 730B, and first and third oscillationsignal output units 740A and 740B.

The first and third control signal generators 730A and 730B are designedfor generating first and third control signals CTR1 and CTR3sequentially activated in response to the first source oscillationsignal OSC_ODD. The first control signal generator 730A outputs an inputsignal IN as the first control signal CTR1 in response to the firstsource oscillation signal OSC_ODD. The third control signal generator730B outputs the first control signal CTR1 as the third control signalCTR3 in response to the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD. Thefirst and third control signal generators 730A and 730B are reset inresponse to a reset signal RST. Since the technical realizations of thefirst and third control signal generators 730A and 730B are the same asthose in FIG. 4, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

The first and third oscillation signal output units 740A and 740B aredesigned for outputting the first source oscillation signals OSC_ODD asthe first and third oscillation signals OSC1 and OSC3 in response to thefirst and third control signals CTR1 and CTR3. The first oscillationsignal output unit 740A outputs the first source oscillation signalOSC_ODD as the first oscillation signal OSC1 in response to the firstcontrol signal CTR1, and the third oscillation signal output unit 740Boutputs the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD as the thirdoscillation signal OSC3 in response to the third control signal CTR3. Atthis point, the first and third oscillation signals OSC1 and OSC3 have aphase difference of 360°.

Meanwhile, the second oscillation signal generator 674 can includesecond and fourth control signal generators 750A and 750B, and secondand fourth oscillation signal output units 760A and 760B.

The second and fourth control signal generators 750A and 750B aredesigned for generating second and fourth control signals CTR2 and CTR4sequentially activated in response to the second source oscillationsignal OSC_EVEN. The second control signal generator 750A outputs aninput signal IN as the second control signal CTR2 in response to thesecond source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN. The fourth control signalgenerator 750B outputs the second control signal CTR2 as the fourthcontrol signal CTR4 in response to the second source oscillation signalOSC_EVEN. The second and fourth control signal generators 750A and 750Bare also reset in response to a reset signal RST. Since the technicalrealizations of the second and fourth control signal generators 750A and750B are also substantially the same as those in FIG. 4, detaileddescriptions thereof are omitted.

The second and fourth oscillation signal output units 760A and 760B aredesigned for outputting the second source oscillation signals OSC_EVENas the second and fourth oscillation signals OSC2 and OSC4 in responseto the second and fourth control signals CTR2 and CTR4. The secondoscillation signal output unit 760A outputs the second sourceoscillation signal OSC_EVEN as the second oscillation signal OSC2 inresponse to the second control signal CTR2, and the fourth oscillationsignal output unit 760B outputs the second source oscillation signalOSC_EVEN as the fourth oscillation signal OSC4 in response to the fourthcontrol signal CTR4. At this point, the second and fourth oscillationsignals OSC2 and OSC4 have a phase difference of 360°.

Therefore, the first to fourth control signal generators 730A, 730B,750A and 750B can generate the first to fourth control signals CTR1,CTR2, CTR3 and CTR4 sequentially activated in response to the first andsecond source oscillation signals OSC_ODD and OSC_EVEN. The first tofourth oscillation signal output units 740A, 740B, 760A and 760B cansequentially generate the first to fourth oscillation signals OSC1,OSC2, OSC3 and OSC4 in response to the first to fourth control signalsCTR1, CTR2, CTR3 and CTR4.

The waveforms of respective signals will be described with reference toFIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram of the reference oscillation signalOSC_REF, the first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD, the second sourceoscillation signal OSC_EVEN, and the first to fourth oscillation signalsOSC1, OSC2, OSC3 and OSC4.

The first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD divided from the referenceoscillation signal OSC_REF transitions from a logic low level to a logichigh level, and a logic high level to a logic low level in response tothe rising edge of the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF. Also, thesecond source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN shifted by a phase of 90° fromthe first source oscillation signal OSC_ODD transitions from a logic lowlevel to a logic high level, and a logic high level to a logic low levelin response to the falling edge of the reference oscillation signalOSC_REF.

Subsequently, the first oscillation signal OSC1 oscillates in responseto a first point 1_ODD at which the first source oscillation signalOSC_ODD transitions to a logic high level, and the third oscillationsignal OSC3 oscillates in response to a second point 2_ODD at which thefirst source oscillation signal OSC_ODD transitions to a logic highlevel. Also, the second oscillation signal OSC2 oscillates in responseto a first point 1_EVEN at which the second source oscillation signalOSC_EVEN transitions to a logic high level, and the fourth oscillationsignal OSC4 oscillates in response to a second point 2_EVEN at which thesecond source oscillation signal OSC_EVEN transitions to a logic highlevel.

Consequently, since the first to fourth oscillation signals OSC1, OSC2,OSC3 and OSC4 are sequentially activated, the first to fourth pumpingvoltage generators 692, 694, 696 and 698 operating in response theretoare not simultaneously driven, but perform charge pumping operationssequentially. That is, the first to fourth oscillation signals OSC1,OSC2, OSC3 and OSC4 have a phase difference of 90°, the transitionpoints of the first and second oscillation signals OSC1 and OSC2 do notoverlap those of the third and fourth oscillation signals OSC3 and OSC4,and the first and second pumping voltage generators 692 and 694, and thethird and fourth pumping voltage generators 696 and 698 perform chargepumping operations such that they do not overlap each other.

With this construction, the noise value of a pumping voltage V_can bealso reduced. For convenience in description, it is assumed that a noisevalue generated in response to a rising edge is 7, and a noise valuegenerated in response to a falling edge is 3.

In the related art, all of pumping voltage generation circuits (it isassumed that the number of the circuits is four) perform a chargepumping operation in response to a rising edge. Accordingly, a noisevalue generated in a pumping voltage V_PP in response to the rising edgebecomes 28 (7×4). Also, a noise value generated in the pumping voltageV_PP during the charge pumping operation in response to a falling edgebecomes 12 (3×4). At this point, a maximum noise value generated in thepumping voltage V_becomes 28.

However, in a pumping voltage generation circuit in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the invention, when the voltage level of a pumpingvoltage V_PP is slightly lower than that of the reference voltage V_REF(the oscillation section of the reference oscillation signal OSC_REF isshort), only the first and second pumping voltage generators 692 and 694can be driven. At this point, a maximum noise value generated in thepumping voltage V_in response to a rising edge becomes 7. Also, when thevoltage level of a pumping voltage V_PP is much lower than that of thereference voltage V_REF (the oscillation section of the referenceoscillation signal OSC_REF is long), all of the first to fourth pumpingvoltage generators 692, 694, 696 and 698 can be driven. At this point, amaximum noise value generated in the pumping voltage V_PP in response tothe rising edges of the first and third oscillation signals OSC1 andOSC3 or the rising edges of the second and fourth oscillation signalsOSC2 and OSC4 becomes 14 (7×2).

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating simulation results of the noise of apumping voltage V_in accordance with the related art and the invention.

Specifically, FIG. 9 illustrates a simulation result of a pumpingvoltage noise V_PP_OLD for the case where conventional pumping voltagegeneration circuits perform charge pumping operations at a time inresponse to the same edge, and a simulation result of a pumping voltagenoise V_PP_NEW for the case where pumping voltage generation circuitssequentially perform charge pumping operations in accordance with theinvention (particularly, the second embodiment). As revealed from FIG.9, the noise generated in the pumping voltage is remarkably reduced.

As described above, the pumping voltage generation circuit in accordancewith the invention can reduce, as much as possible, a noise of a pumpingvoltage V_PP that may be generated by charge pumping operations.Therefore, the stability and reliability of a circuit that uses thispumping voltage V_PP. Particularly, stable ‘tDV’ of a deviceinputting/outputting data in high speed can be secured.

Also, instead of providing a plurality of pumping voltage generationcircuits as in the related art, peripheral circuits (the voltage leveldetector, the reference oscillation signal generator, and a (source)oscillation signal generator) for driving a plurality of pumping voltagegenerators are shared in accordance with the invention as described inthe first and second embodiments. Therefore, a net die yield per wafercan be increased, and improvement in productivity through the net dieyield per wafer increase can reduce manufacturing costs.

The invention allows a plurality of pumping voltage generation circuitsto sequentially operate to reduce a noise generated in a pumping voltageas much as possible, thereby securing the stability and reliability of acircuit using an internal voltage, and particularly, securing ‘tDV’determined as specification.

Also, a circuit operating a pumping voltage generator is shared, so thatnet die yield per wafer can be increased and thus manufacturing costscan be reduced.

While the invention has been described with respect to the specificembodiments, it is noted that the embodiments should be considered indescriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the following claims.

Also, a logic gate and a transistor exemplified in the above-describedembodiments may be modified in their position and kind, depending on thepolarity of an input signal.

Also, though description has been made for the case where a plurality ofoscillation signals have phase differences of 180° and 90° in the aboveembodiments, the invention can be applied to a case of having otherphase differences. Also, though description has been made for the caseof generating a pumping voltage V_PP, the invention can be readilyapplied to all the voltages generated through a charge pumping operationas well as a substrate bias voltage.

1. An internal voltage generation circuit, comprising: a reference oscillation signal generator configured to generate a reference oscillation signal according to a result of a comparison of a pumping voltage with a reference voltage; an oscillation signal generator configured to generate a plurality of oscillation signals having a predetermined phase difference, in response to the reference oscillation signal; and a pumping voltage generator configured to generate the pumping voltage through sequential charge pumping operations performed in response to the respectively oscillation signals.
 2. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the oscillation signal generator includes a plurality of control signal generators configured to generate a plurality of control signals sequentially activated in response to the reference oscillation signal, and a plurality of oscillation signal output units configured to output the plurality of oscillation signals in response to the plurality of control signals.
 3. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of control signal generators include a first control signal generator configured to output an input signal as a first control signal in response to the reference oscillation signal, and at least one second control signal generator configured to output the first control signal as a second control signal in response to the reference oscillation signal.
 4. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of control signal generators includes a storage unit configured to store an input signal in response to the reference oscillation signal, and an output unit configured to output an output signal of the storage unit as a corresponding control signal in response to the reference oscillation signal.
 5. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of oscillation signals have respective phase differences of 180°.
 6. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the pumping voltage generator includes a plurality of charge pumping units configured to perform charge pumping operations in response to the respective plurality of oscillation signals.
 7. An internal voltage generation circuit comprising: a reference oscillation signal generator configured to generate a reference oscillation signal according to a result of a comparison of a pumping voltage with a reference voltage; an oscillation signal generator configured to generate first and second oscillation signals having a predetermined phase difference and whose transition points do not overlap each other on the basis of the reference oscillation signal; and a pumping voltage generator configured to generate the pumping voltage through sequential charge pumping operations performed in response to the respective first and second oscillation signals.
 8. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 7, wherein the first oscillation signal transitions in response to a first edge of the reference oscillation signal, and the second oscillation signal transitions in response to a second edge of the reference oscillation signal.
 9. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 7, wherein the oscillation signal generator includes a clock divider configured to divide the reference oscillation signal to generate the first oscillation signal, and a clock shifter configured to shift the first oscillation signal and to output the shifted first oscillation signal as the second oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal.
 10. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 9, wherein the clock divider includes a storage unit configured to store the fed-back first oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal, and an output unit configured to output an output signal of the storage unit as the first oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal.
 11. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 9, wherein the clock shifter includes a storage unit configured to store the first oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal, and an output unit configured to output an output signal of the storage unit as the second oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal.
 12. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 7, wherein the first oscillation signal and the second oscillation signal have a relative phase difference of 90°.
 13. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 7, wherein the pumping voltage generator includes a plurality of charge pumping units configured to perform a charge pumping operation in response to the first and second oscillation signals, respectively.
 14. An internal voltage generation circuit comprising: a reference oscillation signal generator configured to generate a reference oscillation signal according to a result of a comparison of a pumping voltage with a reference voltage; a source oscillation signal generator configured to generate first and second source oscillation signals having a predetermined phase difference and whose transition points do not overlap each other on the basis of the reference oscillation signal; a first oscillation signal generator configured to generate a plurality of first oscillation signals sequentially activated in response to the first source oscillation signal; a second oscillation signal generator configured to generate a plurality of second oscillation signals sequentially activated in response to the second source oscillation signal; and a pumping voltage generator configured to generate the pumping voltage in response to the plurality of respective first and second oscillation signals.
 15. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein the first source oscillation signal transitions in response to a first edge of the reference oscillation signal, and the second source oscillation signal transitions in response to a second edge of the reference oscillation signal.
 16. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein the source oscillation signal generator includes a clock divider configured to divide the reference oscillation signal to generate the first source oscillation signal, and a clock shifter configured to shift the first source oscillation signal and to output the shifted first source oscillation signal as the second source oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal.
 17. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 16, wherein the clock divider includes a storage unit configured to store the fed-back first source oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal, and an output unit configured to output an output signal of the storage unit as the first source oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal.
 18. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 16, wherein the clock shifter includes a storage unit configured to store the first source oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal, and an output unit configured to output an output signal of the storage unit as the second source oscillation signal in response to the reference oscillation signal.
 19. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein the first oscillation signal generator includes a plurality of control signal generators configured to generate a plurality of control signals sequentially activated in response to the first source oscillation signal; and a plurality of first oscillation signal output units configured to output the plurality of first oscillation signals in response to the plurality of control signals.
 20. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of control signal generators include a first control signal generator configured to output an input signal as a first control signal in response to the first source oscillation signal, and at least one second control signal generator configured to output the first control signal as a second control signal in response to the first source oscillation signal.
 21. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein the second oscillation signal generator includes a plurality of control signal generators configured to generate a plurality of control signals sequentially activated in response to the second source oscillation signal, and a plurality of oscillation signal output units configured to output the second source oscillation signal as the plurality of second oscillation signals in response to the plurality of control signals.
 22. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 21, wherein the plurality of control signal generators include a first control signal generator configured to output an input signal as a first control signal in response to the second source oscillation signal, and at least one second control signal generator configured to output the first control signal as a second control signal in response to the second source oscillation signal.
 23. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein each of the first oscillation signals have a phase difference of 90° with respect to each of the corresponding second oscillation signals.
 24. The internal voltage generation circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein the pumping voltage generator includes a plurality of charge pumping units configured to perform a charge pumping operation in response to the plurality of respective first and second oscillation signals. 